Severable carton with sterile edge

ABSTRACT

A carton comprises separable sections connected together at a continuous cut line, covered by a removable tape. Additional cut lines being formed on the carton adjacent to the cut line to provide a sterile edge around the carton upon removal of the tape and separation of the carton&#39;&#39;s sections.

United States Patent Morse et a1.

SEVERABLE CARTON WITH STERILE EDGE Inventors: Hugh B. Morse, San Jose;Thomas W. Foster, Palo Alto, both of Calif.

Assignee: Fibreboard Corporation, San

Francisco, Calif.

Filed: Jan. 20, 1971 Appl. No.: 108,148

Related U.S. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 833,008, June 13,1969, Pat. No. 3,620,439.

U.S. Cl. 229/51 AS, 206/438, 206/498 Int. Cl B65d 5/54, B65d 17/24 Fieldof Search 206/l7.5, 46 SG, 46 ST, 206/56 AA, 63.2 R, 63.3-63.5; 229/51R, 51 BP, 51 DB, 51 AS, 51 TC References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS7/1919 Tomlinson ct al 229/51 TC [111 3,826,421 [451 July 30, 19742,011,438 8/1935 Daller 229/51 TC 2,141,743 12/1938 Ethridge 229/51 AS X2,708,545 5/1955 Seith 229/37 R X Primary ExaminerWilliam 1. PriceAssistant Examiner-Steven E. Lipman Attorney, Agent, or FirmPhillips,Moore, Weissenberger Lempio & Strabala [57] ABSTRACT A carton comprisesseparable sections connected together at a continuous cut line, coveredby a removable tape. Additional cut lines being formed on the cartonadjacent to the cut line to provide a sterile edge around the cartonupon removal of the tape and separation of the cartons sections.

6 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures mimmm n v 3.826.421

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FIG. I2

FIG.

INVENTORS HUGH B. MORSE THOMAS W. FOSTER ATTORNEYS SEVERABLE CARTON WITHSTERILE CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This is a DivisionalApplication of US. Pat. Application Ser. No. 833,008, filed on June I3,1969, now US. Pat. No. 3,620,439, patented Nov. 16, l97l.

Hospitals and the like require the packaging of pharmaceutical andmedical items in sterilized containers prior to their use. Suchcontainers have generally comprised sealed plastic bags, subjected to agas sterilization process. When such a bag is opened the torn edgesthereof tend to contaminate the removed items to thus render itnon-sterile.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of this invention is to overcome theabove briefly described problem by providing a serverable carton adaptedto provide a sterile edge at least substantially therearound to preventan item from becoming contaminated upon its removal from the severedcarton. The preferred carton embodiment covered by the appended claimsis illustrated in FIGS. 11-14 and essentially comprises a plurality ofside panels connected together to form a closed tube and a continuouscut line formed in the panels to divide the carton into separablesections. A removable tear tape is adhesively secured over the cut lineand cooperates withmeans disposed thereunder to provide sterile edgeportions completely around the carton upon removal of the tape.Therefore, upon carton separation contamination of the packaged item isprevented since it can only contact such sterile edge portions uponremoval thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an isometric view of anerected first carton embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a blank utilized to form the FIG. 1 carton;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, plan view taken at the intersection of twooverlapped and sealed panels of the FIG. 1 carton;

FIGS. 4-6 are partial, enlarged isometric views illustrating threeprogressive opening stages of the FIG. 1 carton;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are partial, isometric views of a second cartonembodiment;

FIG. 9 is a partial, isometric view illustrating a modified end closurewhich may be employed with the aforementioned cartons;

FIG. 10 is a partial, top plan view of a blank utilized to form the FIG.9 end closure;

FIG. 11 is a partial, isometric view illustrating an erected thirdcarton embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a partial, top plan view of a blank utilized to form the FIG.11 carton; and

FIGS. 13 and 14 are partial, isometric views illustrating twoprogressive opening stages of the FIG. 11 carton.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 illustrates a first cartonembodiment formed out of the cut and scored blank illustrated in FIG. 2.The blank comprises a plurality of consecutive side panels 10, ll, 12and a fourth panel comprising overlapping panel portions 13 and 14.Parallel scorelines l5 and 16 cooperate with transverse scorelines 17-20to define the side panels and also identical end closures at oppositeends of the carton.

The right end closure, for example, comprises a scoreline 21 disposedparallel to scoreline 16 to define gusset fold panels 22 and 23. Suchpanels are hingedly attached to side panels 10 and 12, respectively. Thescorelines further define an end panel 24 hingedly connected to sidepanel 11 and a second end panel comprising overlapped panel portions 25and 26 connected to side panel portions 13 and 14, respectively.

Referring to the erected carton of FIG. I, side panel portions 13 and 14are secured together in overlapped relationship to form a closed tubehaving a rectangular crosssection. The attached gusset folds 22 and 23are formed in a conventional manner. A scoreline 27 (FIG. 2) defines aclosure flap 28 which is adhesively secured to overlapping flap portions29 and 30. The fully sealed and erected FIG. 1 carton would normally besubjected to a conventional gas sterilization process.

This invention is essentially drawn to the hereinafter described meansfor providing sterile edge portions completely around the carton uponopening thereof. The carton is divided into separable sections by asubstantially continuous through cut line 31 having a plastic tape 32adhesively secured thereover. The tape is preferably bounded byparallel, limited depth cuts 31' to facilitate clean and expeditioustape removal. US. Application Ser. No. 717,810, assigned to the assigneeof this application and filed on Apr. I, 1968 by Ernest C. Pellaton forApparatus and Method for Forming Taped Articles," discloses an apparatusand method for applying the plastic tape to the blank.

In particular, a paperboard blank may be fully coated on each side witha barrier or heat sealableadhesive coating (e.g., polyethylene) adaptedto firmly secure the tape thereto when heated. The tape is preferablylaminated to comprise a thin inner layer of polyethylene or othersuitable adhesive and a thin outer layer, such as a polyester basedcomposition on Mylar, exhibiting a substantially higher tensile strengththan the inner layer. The tape-to-carton or polyethylene-topolyethyleneseal and the exceptionally high tensile strength of the tapes outerlayer facilitate expeditious removal of the tape.

Such removal will effect a tearing or stripping off of contacted surfaceportions of the paperboard to leave roughened and sterile edge portions33 (FIG. 4). It should be noted in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6 that offset orstaggered through cut 31 is preferably interrupted at one end by a shortlimited depth cut 34. A tab 35 is defined on panel portion 13 by anoffset portion of out line 31 and extends at least in part past anoverlying or superimposed portion of panel portion 14 in a directiontransverse to the cut line. The tab joins and cooperates with surfaceportions 33 to provide means forming sterile edge portions completelyaround the carton. A second end of through out 31 is preferablyinterrupted by a second, short limited depth cut 36 similar to cut 34.

Thus, upon removal of tape 32 and separation of the cartons sections, asterilized pharmaceutical or medical package 37 may be removed from thecarton (FIG. 6) without contaminating same. Such package may comprise aplastic tray having medical instruments disposed therein and a suitablegauze or towel wrapped therearound. A non-adhesive means at area 38 maybe formed on the carton to prevent an end of the tape from adheringthereto to expedite'tape removal. In addition, breakable joining webs 39may be formed in spaced relationship along continuous cutline 31 tocooperate with limited depth cuts 34 and 36 to insure against prematureseparation of the cartons two sections.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a second carton embodiment essentiallydiffering from the first described embodiment in the type of meansemployedfor forming sterile edge portions completely around the carbon.In particular, upon removal of a tape 32a and separation of thecartons'sections, a thin sheet'or semi-rigid liner 40 is exposed whichprovides sterile edge portions completely around the carton. The linermay comprise a thin sheet of polyethylene-coated paper, for example,adhesively secured interiorly of the cartons side panels to normallyextend across out line 31a. It should be understood that other types ofopening means could be utilized in lieu of the cut 31a-tape 32aarrangement, e.g., a single or multiple limited depth cut line defininga tear strip directly on the side panels.

It should be noted that numerals identical to those appearing in FIGS.l-6 depict similar structures, with the numerals appearing in FIGS. 7and 8 being accompanied by a subscript a. Similar structures illustratedin the FIG. 9 and FIGS. ll-14 embodiments are numbered in a like manner,with the common numerals appearing therein being accompanied by asubscript b and 0, respectively.

FIG. 9 illustrates a third carton embodiment essentially differing fromthe FIGS. 1-6 embodiment in the type of end closure employed thereon.The end closure is formed out of the blank, partially illustrated inFIG. 10, comprising side panels 10b, 11b and 12b and l3b-14bcorresponding to like side panels illustrated in FIG. 1. Gusset folds22b and 23b are suitably arranged to cooperate with flap 24b and flapportions 25b and 26b to form the integrated end closure. Flap 28b issecured over the overlapped flap portions after flap portions 29b and30b have been folded outwardly thereunder.

The FIGS. 10-14 embodiment is similar to the aforedescribed FIGS. 1-6embodiment, but essentially differs therefrom in the arrangement of thetear strip and underlying opening structures. In particular, the cartonis divided into seperable sections by a substantially continuousthrough-cut line 31c having a plastic tape 32c adhesively securedthereover. This tape is preferably bounded by parallel, limited cuts 31'c to facilitate tape removal. A through-cut 34, preferably interruptedby small and spaced joining webs, defines a tab 35c on a panel 140extending past an underlying cut-out 36c formed on a panel 13c.

When it is desired to open the carton, progressively illustrated in itsvarious stages in FIGS. 11-14, tab 36 is grasped manually and the tapeis torn from the carton. Such removal will effect a tearing orstripping-off of the contacted surface portions of the paperboard toleave roughened and sterile edge portions 33c which insure againstcontamination of the removed contents. The underside (not shown) of tab35c preferably has a non-adhesive means formed thereon to prevent itfrom adhering to the underlying surface portions of tape 32c furtherfacilitate expeditious tape removal.

What is claimed is:

l. A sterile carton comprising a plurality of side panels connectedtogether to form a tube, one of said side panels comprising overlappingpanel portions, an end closure attached to said panels to close and sealeach end of said tube, a continuous substantially cut through lineformed in said side panels terminating adjacent an edge of each of saidoverlapping panel portions to divide said tube into separable sections,a removable tape adhesively secured over said continuous cut line, a tabsecured to an underside of said tape, remo'vably attached adjacent toone edge of said overlapping panel portions and extending beyond theedge thereof in overlying and unattached relationship with respect tothe other one of said overlapping panel portions to facilitate manual"removal of said tape, and additional cut lines formed on opposite edgesof said tape extending partially through said side panels adjacent tosaid continuous cut line whereby sterile edge portions will be formedcompletely around said tube on at least one of said sections uponremoval of said tape and underlying surface portions of said side panelsfor preventing the contamination of a sterilized item when it is removedfrom said tube upon separation thereof.

2. The invention of claim 1 further comprising breakable webs disposedin spaced relationship along said out line and extending thereacrossunder said tape to join said sections together with said tape.

. 3. The invention of claim 1 further comprising means forming anon-adhesive area on an underside of said tab overlying an end portionof said tape.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein outer surface portions of saidpanels and underlying inner surface portions of said tape are coatedwith a heat sealable adhesive.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said heat sealable adhesivecomprises polyethylene.

' 6. The invention of claim 4 wherein said tape comprises a layer ofplastic meterial exhibiting a substantially higher tensile strength thanthe coating of said heat sealable adhesive.

1. A sterile carton comprising a plurality of side panels connectedtogether to form a tube, one of said side panels comprising overlappingpanel portions, an end closure attached to said panels to close and sealeach end of said tube, a continuous substantially cut through lineformed in said side panels terminating adjacent an edge of each of saidoverlapping panel portions to divide said tube into separable sections,a removable tape adhesively secured over said continuous cut line, a tabsecured to an underside of said tape, removably attached adjacent to oneedge of said overlapping panel portions and extending beyond the edgethereof in overlying and unattached relationship with respect to theother one of said overlapping panel portions to facilitate manualremoval of said tape, and additional cut lines formed on opposite edgesof said tape extending partially through said side panels adjacent tosaid continuous cuT line whereby sterile edge portions will be formedcompletely around said tube on at least one of said sections uponremoval of said tape and underlying surface portions of said side panelsfor preventing the contamination of a sterilized item when it is removedfrom said tube upon separation thereof.
 2. The invention of claim 1further comprising breakable webs disposed in spaced relationship alongsaid cut line and extending thereacross under said tape to join saidsections together with said tape.
 3. The invention of claim 1 furthercomprising means forming a non-adhesive area on an underside of said taboverlying an end portion of said tape.
 4. The invention of claim 1wherein outer surface portions of said panels and underlying innersurface portions of said tape are coated with a heat sealable adhesive.5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said heat sealable adhesivecomprises polyethylene.
 6. The invention of claim 4 wherein said tapecomprises a layer of plastic meterial exhibiting a substantially highertensile strength than the coating of said heat sealable adhesive.